{"id":1798272,"url":"https://alion.io/job/ncl-msca-doctoral-researcher","title":"MSCA Doctoral Researcher","company":{"id":20390,"name":"NCL","domain":"ncl.ac.uk","url":"https://alion.io/company/ncl","size_band":"501-1000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"SuccessFactors","truth_index":null},"role":"AI/ML","role_family":"AI/ML","seniority":null,"employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Newcastle, United Kingdom"],"countries":["GB"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":42702,"max":null,"currency":"GBP","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":56568},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Digital Twin","optional":false},{"name":"Machine Learning","optional":false},{"name":"Multi-Agent Systems","optional":false},{"name":"Explainable AI","optional":true},{"name":"Julia","optional":true},{"name":"MATLAB","optional":true},{"name":"Python","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-09-30T00:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-30","last_verified_at":"2026-10-18T09:13:43Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":18,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":18},"description":"Salary: £42,702.19 per annum\nPlus mobility allowance: £5,926.92 per annum\nPlus a family allowance: subject to eligibility, which may be applied for following appointment\nNewcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.\nClosing Date: 20 October 2026\nThe Role\nApplications are invited for a fully funded PhD position at Newcastle University as part of i3WaterS - Intelligent, Innovative and Integrative Water Systems, a European Doctoral Network funded under the Horizon Europe Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions programme.\nThe i3WaterS network brings together leading universities, research centres, technology developers, and water utilities across Europe. The project will train 15 Doctoral Candidates to develop innovative, AI-driven approaches for intelligent, resilient, and sustainable water systems.\nWater distribution systems are increasingly exposed to water scarcity, climate change, infrastructure deterioration, operational uncertainty, and extreme events. i3WaterS addresses these challenges through the integration of data, expert knowledge, computational models, digital twins, and advanced artificial intelligence within a new intelligent decision-support framework.\nThis position corresponds to Doctoral Candidate 15 (DC15):\nEnhancing water distribution management through District Information Areas: A data-driven approach to optimisation and automation\nThe successful candidate will develop the concept of District Information Areas for Smart Water Systems (DIAS). These will operate as data-informed virtual subnetworks that complement existing District Metered Areas and support coordinated, semi-autonomous decision-making within water distribution systems.\nThe research will investigate how network connectivity, sensor information, smart-meter data, operational conditions, and information from neighbouring areas can be integrated to assess local network health and support more efficient and resilient system operation.\nThe project will also examine how the configuration and coverage of monitoring systems can be improved to provide a more representative view of the physical infrastructure and contribute to the development of large-scale digital twins for water distribution systems.\nThis is a 36-month full-time position, expected to commence on 1 January 2027.\nThe successful candidate will be enrolled in the PhD programme at Newcastle University and supervised by:\nMain Supervisor: Dr Manuel Herrera, Newcastle University, UK\nCo-supervisor: Dr Lucia Alexandra Popartan, University of Girona, Spain\nCo-supervisor: Dr David Ayala-Cabrera, University College Dublin, Ireland\n Industrial Mentor: An expert from Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, UK\nHow to Apply\nCandidates should submit their application through a formal application via the Newcastle University application system. Please outline in your application how you meet the eligibility, academic requirements, skills and qualifications needed for this post, as outlined in the person specification, as well as any further knowledge, skills, experience or qualifications that you feel are relevant to the post\nApplications should include the following documents in English:\nAcademic certificates and full transcripts (pdf format)\nA detailed curriculum vitae, including all academic degrees, dates, and awarding institutions\nInformation on the candidate’s country of residence and main activity during the 36 months immediately preceding the expected recruitment date\nDocumentary evidence supporting the qualifications, experience, and achievements included in the CV\nA motivation letter of no more than two pages explaining the candidate’s interest in the position and suitability for the research project\nInformation included in the CV that is not supported by appropriate evidence may not be considered during the assessment.\nFor informal enquiries about the position, please contact:\nDr Manuel Herrera,School of Engineering, Newcastle University\nEmail: \nKey Accountabilities\nDevelop and implement a District Information Area framework based on network connectivity, shared data, and operational interdependencies.\nInvestigate approaches for defining adaptive or virtual subnetworks that complement existing District Metered Areas.\nDevelop methods for semi-autonomous local decision-making while maintaining coordination across the wider water distribution system.\nIntegrate information from sensors, smart meters, network models, and neighbouring areas to assess local infrastructure condition and operational performance.\nApply network science, data analytics, artificial intelligence, and decision-support methods to water distribution management.\nInvestigate monitoring coverage and sensor placement requirements for representative and reliable assessment of the physical network.\nContribute to the development of an integrated, large-scale digital twin of the water distribution system.\nEvaluate the proposed methods using operational or experimental water utility case studies.\nWork collaboratively with academic and industrial partners across the i3WaterS network.\nUndertake the research required for the award of a PhD at Newcastle University.\nPublish research findings in relevant peer-reviewed journals and present the work at international conferences, workshops, and network events.\nParticipate actively in the i3WaterS training programme, Doctoral Board activities, dissemination, and public-engagement events.\nThe expected research outcomes include:\nImproved management of District Metered Areas through decisions informed by local network evaluation and information from neighbouring areas.\nMore effective and resilient coordination of operational decisions across water distribution systems.\nImproved monitoring strategies that provide more comprehensive representation of network condition and behaviour.\nNew methods supporting the development and operation of large-scale digital twins for smart water systems.\nTraining, Support and Development\nA 36-month full-time employment contract and enrolment in a Newcastle University PhD programme.\nAn international and interdisciplinary supervisory team involving academic and industrial experts.\nA personalised Career Development Plan covering research, technical, professional, and transferable skills.\nAccess to Newcastle University research facilities, computing resources, and relevant water infrastructure datasets and models.\nParticipation in an international Doctoral School delivered across the i3WaterS network.\nNetwork-wide training schools, workshops, seminars, and scientific events.\nOpportunities to work directly with European water utilities, research institutions, and technology partners.\nSupport to attend international conferences, publish research outputs, and undertake dissemination activities.\nThe i3WaterS training programme integrates expertise in areas including:\nArtificial intelligence and machine learning\nExplainable and trustworthy AI\nKnowledge representation and semantic technologies\nMulti-agent systems and intelligent decision-support systems\nDigital twins and smart water systems\nHydroinformatics and water engineering\nNetwork monitoring and data management\nHigh-performance computing and large-scale data analysis\nInnovation, entrepreneurship, and technology transfer\nScientific communication and transferable skills\nTraining activities will be organised through an international mobility programme involving events in Barcelona, Dublin, Bordeaux, Delft, Brussels, and Newcastle\nForeseen Secondments\nThe candidate will undertake two international secondments within the i3WaterS network.\nUniversity of Girona, Spain\nA three-month secondment is expected to begin around month 23 of the project, under the supervision of Dr Lucia Alexandra Popartan.\nThe candidate will receive specialised training in socio-natural systems, water and socio-technical transitions, environmental justice, sustainable cities, and relevant AI methods. The secondment will also support data collection, methodological development, and interaction with other i3WaterS Doctoral Candidates.\nAguas de Cartagena, Colombia\nA two-month secondment at Aguas de Cartagena, Colombia, is expected to begin around month 34, under the mentorship of Mr Barrera Medina. The candidate will test and validate the research methods and findings within an operational water utility, assessing their practical applicability and supporting their transfer to a real-world water distribution management context.\nThe Person\nApplicants must satisfy the eligibility requirements of the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks programme.\nAt the date of recruitment:\nApplicants must not have been awarded a doctoral degree.\nApplicants may be of any nationality.\nApplicants must comply with the MSCA mobility rule. They must not have resided or carried out their main activity, including work or studies, in the United Kingdom for more than 12 months during the 36 months immediately preceding the recruitment date. Short stays, such as holidays, are not normally taken into account.\nApplicants must meet the requirements for admission to a doctoral programme at Newcastle University.\nThe successful candidate will be employed full time and will work exclusively on the i3WaterS project during the funded employment period.\nAcademic Requirements\nApplicants should have, or expect to obtain, at least a 2:1 Honours degree or international equivalent in a relevant discipline, including:\nCivil Engineering\nWater or Environmental Engineering\nComputer Science\nStatistics or Data Science\nApplied Mathematics\nSystems or Control Engineering\nAnother discipline directly relevant to the proposed research\nA relevant Master’s degree is desirable but is not essential where the applicant can demonstrate equivalent knowledge or research experience.\nSkills and Qualifications\nThe successful candidate should demonstrate:\nA strong interest in water distribution systems, smart water infrastructure, or infrastructure management.\nThe ability to undertake quantitative and computational research.\nGood analytical and problem-solving skills.\nExperience or demonstrable potential in programming using Python, R, Julia, MATLAB, or a related language.\nThe ability to work with complex datasets and computational models.\nThe ability to communicate research clearly in written and spoken English.\nThe capacity to work independently and manage a long-term research project.\nA collaborative approach and willingness to work within an international, multidisciplinary network.\nKnowledge or experience in one or more of the following areas would be advantageous:\nWater engineering and hydraulic modelling\nAsset management and infrastructure resilience\nArtificial intelligence and machine learning\nTrustworthy or explainable AI\nNetwork science and graph-based methods\nDecision-support systems\nDigital twins\nSensor networks and smart-meter data\nData integration and interoperability\nOptimisation and automation\nScientific writing using LaTeX\nApplicants are not expected to have experience in every area listed. Training will be provided through Newcastle University and the wider i3WaterS network.\nEnglish Language Requirements\nApplicants whose first language is not English will normally require an IELTS score, or recognised equivalent, of 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-skill.\nDepending on their nationality and programme requirements, international applicants may require an Academic Technology Approval Scheme clearance certificate before applying for a visa or commencing the programme.\nNewcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.\nWe are committed to being a fully...","description_format":"text","description_chars":13098,"description_truncated":true,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"master","optional":true},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[{"language":"English","level":"All levels","optional":false}]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Design & Creative","Education","Higher Education"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-03T18:22:53Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":34,"band":"fade","label":"Fading","p_open":1,"p_active":0.62,"p_room":0.55,"age_days":17,"expected_fill_days":16,"reasons":["conf:28","win:tail"],"computed_at":"2026-10-17T05:46:00Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":56568,"is_top_pay":false},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/ncl-msca-doctoral-researcher","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/ncl-msca-doctoral-researcher.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-18T11:53:24Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":17718,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-19T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":20390},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=20390"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fncl-msca-doctoral-researcher"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fncl-msca-doctoral-researcher"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fncl-msca-doctoral-researcher"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/ncl-msca-doctoral-researcher\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fncl-msca-doctoral-researcher"}]}